San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (ORD): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (ORD) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2025, 87% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 67% — a 20-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 15
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 22m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,846 mi
Best airline from SFO to ORD
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 81% | 13 min | 0.9% | 7,312 |
| American Airlines | 75% | 24 min | 1.4% | 2,922 |
| Alaska Airlines | 67% | 18 min | 0.6% | 506 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SFO to ORD
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 11 a.m. departures (62%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 18 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 83% | 11 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 18 min |
| Friday | 77% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 81% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system23%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SFO to ORD delayed?
- 22% of SFO–ORD flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SFO to ORD?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 7,312 flights. 3 airlines flew SFO–ORD frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SFO to ORD?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 11 a.m. have the worst (62%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SFO to ORD?
- The scheduled SFO–ORD flight time averages 4h 22m over 1,846 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are SFO to ORD flights cancelled?
- 1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SFO to ORD?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 67% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 20-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 10,740 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.